Thanks everyone who came out to last night's Lost and Found - a great night! Blowhard's next theme will be part of the Sex Festival on Monday Feb 27th - Finger Lickin' Good: Stories from the Sack, Part 2. We are looking for your sexy stories including any leads for a sex neurologist, a gigolo and an abstainer - email blowhardpresents@gmail.com!

A bit o' background:
Why do we tell stories? “Because it’s how we understand the world. It’s how we learn. It’s how we form memories” says Stephanie Domet. Domet is one of the four storytellers who have brought Blow Hard to Halifax. Blow Hard is a public storytelling session that happens about once every three months.

For the cost of five dollars, there is food and plenty of entertainment.

Founded by: Stephanie Domet, Andrea Dorfman, Tara Doyle and Jackie Torrens, they wanted the public to experience the gift of a told story. The evening also serves to give storytellers, both amateur and professional,a chance to ply their craft.

Storytelling is how people pass on their knowledge and wisdom. It is the craft which formed our creation myths. Though ancient, the experience of a told story is mesmerizing. Even though society revels in 3D movies on the IMAX screen, the experience of one person relaying a story to a handful of other people is as captivating as the newest media form. Andrea Dorfman, another of Blow Hards organizers, shares that storytelling “made me connect to different people in a different way. It’s profound.” From these recognitions, Blow Hard was born.

On a cold December morning, three of the four Blow Hard organizers met with me at the Smiling Goat cafe on South Park St. in Halifax. Getting three storytellers around one table meant a symphony of sounds - there was no need to ask questions. The three women recounted there experiences and there thoughts.

The women shared how anything goes at Blow Hard. But there are two rules that storytellers should adhere to.The first rule is that the told story must be true and the second rule is that no written notes are allowed. However, if a storyteller chooses not to heed the advice of the organizers, the only repercussion is that the audience’s experience is diminished. With paper “you’re not telling a story anymore, you’re reading it. There’s almost a glass wall [between you and the audience]” explains Tara Doyle.

A Blow Hard evening consists of four prepared stories, each told by a different presenter. These are four members of the community who have prepared a tale to last about ten minutes. Each storyteller is introduced by a member of the organizing team who may take the opportunity to recount a story themselves. As a half-time show, Blow Hard opens the microphone to the audience so that anyone itching to tell a story has a forum to do so.

Blow Hard advertises by word of mouth (appropriately) and through their website. Organizers are involved because they love the craft - not for any monetary return.

The Blow Hard session held on Monday, November 2nd focused on the topic of Sibling Rivalry.

Veronica Simmons was the first presenter. That evening, Simmons detailed how her perception of her sister influenced who she became and how she later had to work to overcome the internal stereotyping that she had done.

“I try to pick a couple of people in the audience to connect with and gage their reactions to what I am saying,” said Simmons. It is this connection formed between the audience and the storyteller which helps make the evening so magically intimate.

Organizer Stephanie Domet notes that it’s this intimacy which Blow Hard tries to capture. Each evening’s performance is different and each session is different. But it is always extraordinary.

Blow Hard has had about 20 sessions over the course of four years. The 80 people in attendence in November was probably the biggest crowd the event ever attracted. Held at Fred’s on Agricola street in Halifax, Domet says if the evening attracts an even bigger audience they will have to start turning people away. “The space right now is perfect. We wouldn’t want to move anywhere.”
~ Jen Powley

This Thursday January 12 edition of the Rose and Kettle Concert Sessions will feature the incredible Brooke Miller, one of Canada's brightest stars in the constellation of Canadian singer/songwriters. This is a return engagement for this skilled guitarist and creator of top-shelf contemporary folk oriented music. Her appearance last year at the Rose and Kettle is still being talked about. She has a brand new self-titled CD in release internationally on Itunes, CD and vinyl, with another one on the way soon. Don't miss this chance to see her in the unique surroundings of the Rose and Kettle.

Coming up for the month we have Sandy Greenberg on January 19 and Al Macdonald with Richard Fortier on January 29th.

Find us at the Cole Harbour Rural Heritage Farm on Poplar Drive, just off Otago Drive in Cole Harbour across from the Cole Harbour Shopping Centre.

Watch our blogsite for updates on the rest of the line-up, a few youtube videos of our performances, and a few highlights from past shows. Just google "Rose and Kettle Concert Sessions" or go to: www.roseandkettleconcertsessions.blogspot.com

The Rose and Kettle Concert Sessions are a weekly series of musical presentations produced by volunteers in collaboration with the Cole Harbour Rural Heritage Society and the Harbour Folk Society. All proceeds from the sale of refreshments go to support the Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum and all free-will admission donations support the musical performance.

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all thru Just Us!
Not a singer was singing nor making a fuss.
The coffee pots hung by their handlers with care
In hopes that the singers soon wouldn’t be there.

The Chai tea and Nestle were snug in their drawers
While creatures with sugar crumbs danced on the floors.
Big Mama in her headband and I in my toque
Had just settled down from a night of abuse.

When out side the door there arose such a clatter
The creatures all scurried to the cookie dough batter.
Away to the window we flew without poise
Tore open the shutters and threw up. The noise

Of the crooners arrested our ears
And the lack-lustre music gave rise to our fears
When what to our mortified eyes did we see
But guitars out of tune and eight tinny folkies.

With a little old guy’s verses so out of sync
We knew in an instant we needed a drink.
More rapid-fire E chords this chorister played
And he whistled and shouted and called more by name.

“On D-chord… some dancing and prancing you vixens…
On C-chord… Hey stupid! It’s dawning you’re ditz’n.
To the top of the chorus… to the top of the call
Now bash away… smash away… clash away all.”

The dry heaves were worse than Wild Hurricane wine,
So we ran to the bathroom ‘cause we knew the signs.
While out on the sidewalk the choristers ceased.
”Thank the Good Lord for that! At last… we’ll have peace!”

And then, as we tinkled, we heard on the stairs
A God-awful wailing that gave us both scares!
As we stuck out our heads and were looking around,
Down the staircase the whole of them came. Oh the sounds!

They were dressed… well some were… from their heads to their feet
In 60s clothes tarnished with Patchouli and Deet!
A rumble of noise overwhelmed front to back,
As these tone-challenged meddlers broke in for a snack.

Their eyes how they wrinkled! Their pimples how scary!
Their cheeks were like Moses! Their noses were hairy!
They drooled! Little mouths were drawn on with lipstick
And the beards on the women made both of us sick.

They stumbled upright. One held tight to his teeth.
And the bloke in the circle was dead we believed.
He had a broad’s face but his clothes were all wrong
And they shook him and laughed when he didn’t respond.

They were chummy that bunch and hungry as well
And we hid in the bathroom to help save ourselves.
The twinkies, the pie and fists full of bread
Soon gave us to know there’d be nothing left.

They spoke with their mouths full and sang that way too
Come to think of it… they sounded better. Who knew?
And Ladyfingers aside… saved the best for the end,
Cinnamon buns to take home for their friends!

They sprang to their feet! Well they tried but they couldn’t…
They were too stuffed with carbs that they’d eaten but shouldn’t.
But I heard them exclaim, ‘ere they passed out that night,
"Happy Christmas to all, we done it up right!" 

To all of our wonderful Rose and Kettle Concert Sessions family, welcome to 2012!

A reminder that this Thursday. January 5 we start an hour earlier at 6 p.m. with our annual pot luck feast followed by our first Play-Around-Sing-Around of the New Year. Bring along a dish you would like to share, as well as your instrument, a tune, your voice or just your ears for a wonderful evening of sharing some good food and good times.

As a special feature we are also having an ugly sweater contest. Admit it. We all have one somewheer, so dig it out and you just might win an alledgedly fabulous prize!

Stay tuned for next week too when we welcome back for a return engagement Brooke Miller. Brook has a brand new CD and she has been touring the country and beyond and getting rave reviews.

So, join us this Thursday at 6 at the Rose and Kettle.

Find us at the Cole Harbour Rural Heritage Farm on Poplar Drive, just off Otago Drive in Cole Harbour across from the Cole Harbour Shopping Centre.

Watch our blogsite for updates on the rest of the line-up, a few youtube videos of our performances, and a few highlights from past shows. Just google "Rose and Kettle Concert Sessions" or go to: www.roseandkettleconcertsessions.blogspot.com

The Rose and Kettle Concert Sessions are a weekly series of musical presentations produced by volunteers in collaboration with the Cole Harbour Rural Heritage Society and the Harbour Folk Society. All proceeds from the sale of refreshments go to support the Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum and all free-will admission donations support the musical performance.

Over the years, our winter storytellings have
brought forth stirring tales from many traditions:
stories of the dark and cold, the return of the light;
stories of fortitude and survival in harsh conditions;
stories to warm cold hearts.

Perhaps you have a story to share,
or come just to listen and wonder.

Always open to the public. Resolve to
exercise your imagination in 2012!